Mobile security market set to hit $1.88 billion

ABI Research estimates that mobile security services will total $1.88 billion by the end of 2013

ABI Research estimates that mobile security services will total $1.88 billion by the end of 2013, by far dominating both the mobile device and mobile application markets for threat protection.

When it comes to protecting the enterprise, IT departments are looking beyond the basic, simple security applications, the firm found, with the demand for specialized services beginning to drive the market. In particular, ABI found that network security, managed security and professional services are set to become the biggest categories for business-to-business mobile security.

"Isolated and standalone security solutions will work for the individual consumer, but for organizational applications and carriers, mobile security services will take the lead," said Michela Menting, ABI Research's senior analyst in cyber-security.

Bundled network security, which includes unified threat management, deep packet inspection, virtual private networks and remote device management, will become ever-more important. Increasingly, mobile security is concentrating on services for mobile device, identity and authentication management, as well as for audits, certification and consulting.

The market will continue to tick upward as mobile threats proliferate, and proliferate they have: the number of unique mobile threats has grown by a whopping 261% in just two quarters, ABI said.

“Increasingly complex malware is taking advantage of a wider range of mobile functionalities to exploit vulnerabilities on the device and in the network,” it said. “And, organizations allowing BYOD policies and without proper mobile device management capabilities are at great risk from covert interception and corruption.”

Mobile network operators will begin to adopt mobile security themselves as well, ABI noted. “Vendors such as Adaptive Mobile and F-Secure are well-placed to consolidate their position for carrier-grade security solutions,” the firm said. “Players offering highly-innovative solutions in niche markets include Aujas Networks (India) with professional services and Zimperium (Israel) for mobile IDS/UTM.”